Combined lighting and ignition switch



March 29, 1927. 1,622,706

H. A. DOUGLAS I COMBINED LIGHTING ANDJGNITION SWITCH Filed J ap. 27. 1926 2 sheets-shew 1 5Z- Z6- r z g ff March 29,1927. 622706 H. A. DOUGLAS COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1926 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

nanny A. DOUGLAS, or Bnonson, MICHIGAN.

CQMBINED LIGHTING-AND IGNITION SWITCH.

Application filed January 27, 1926, Serial No. 84,093.

- My invention relates to combinedswitches for governing the ignition or power controlling circuits and the lighting circuits of automotive vehicles and which combined switches employ rotatable switch handles switches of the prior art but preferably so arranged that they will not carry any portion of the'current and as to dispense with the contact carriers supplied in addition to the insulating contact actuating rings coupled with the handle and rotatable lock member. In carrying out this object of my invention, the insulating "rings that are coupled with the handle and rotatable lock member for controlling the circuits, directly carry the -contacts instead of serving to operate contact carriers supplied in addition thereto, spring mechanism being added which is out of the path of any current flowing in the controlled circuits and which merely performs the mechanical function of maintaining the contact carrying insulatin rings or supports in proper assembly wit the parts that serve to turn the same. In addition to this electrical advantage, my switch also has mechanical advantages, as will appear. i

. I will explain. my invention in all of its characteristics more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings'in which Fig. 1 isa front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear viewof the switch shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4l--4.- of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a'sectional view of the central portion of the structure taken on the common axis of the casing handle and locking device, the rotatable lock member and key being shown in elevation Fig. 6-is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, on a smaller scale; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on li ne.77 of Fig. 3, also on a smaller scale, Fig. 8 is a sectional view on 4 line 88 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the handle controlled insulating contact carrying ring; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the front end wall of the casing and its tubular extension in separated relation and showing cams upon the interior face of said wall, which cooperate with the ring of Fig. 9 to hold this ring in various adjustments; Fig. 11 is a perspective view, illustrating the ignition circuit controlling insulating" contact carrying ring, and the cam member complemental to the cam member carried by this ring; and Fig. 12 is a diagram, illustrating the interrelation of the handleand lock with the circuits controlled thereby.

The casing employed is preferably inclusive of a body of insulation in the form of a cup having a side wall 1 and a rear or bottom wall 2 in integral formation. The front metallic end wall-3 of the casingconstitutes a closure that is placed upon the rim of the cup and is held in assembly with the cup by means of" the prongs 4 extending rearwardly from said end-wall and projecting into the recesses 5 formed upon the exterior of the side wall 1 of the casing. The cup shaped body ofthe casing is desirably cylindricalv and the front end wall3 of the casing has a lock opening ,6, generally circular and coaxial with the casing. The cylindrical hollow lockmember 7 is carried by the front end wall 3 of the casing and projects into the casing interior In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the wings 8, located upon the end wall 3 at the opening 6 through this "end wall, project into spaces 9 formed in opposite sides of the lock member 7 in front of the head 10 on this lock mem ber whereby said lock member is held from rotation. The bead '10 engages the inner face of the casing end wall 3 and the ears 11 upon the front end of'said lock member are clinched outwardly and backwardly against the front face of the casing wall 3, whereby said lock member is held from movement along the axis of the casing.

The lock member 7, thus stationary or in fixed relation with the front "casing end wall sides thereof. it rotatable lock member 13 is journaled by and within'the hollow lock member 7, the lock member 13, having shoulders 14; which engage the ears 15 upon and projecting inwardly from the hollow lock member 7 to prevent inward movement of the rotatable lock member. ,Outward movement of the rotatable lock member 13 is prevented by means of the ears 16 upon 3, isfiformed with openings 12 in opposite and projecting inwardly from the front end of the lock member 7 and which engage the shoulder 17 u ppln the front end of the lock member 13. mblers 18 are radially move able in openings formed in the .rotatable lock member 7 so that the tumblers may be bodily turned to turn the lock member 13 and close the ignition circuit, as will here matter more fully appear. When the lock member 13 is turned back by its key to a position in which the tumblers are in register with'the openings 12, the ignition circuit is opened, and is locked open by the tumblers when the key is withdrawn. The floating contact carrier 20 is preferably in the form of a ring of insulation fixedly carrying a metallic plate 20 having an oblong bore 20 in'which the oblong inner end of the lock member 13 is received so that this contact carrier is turned when the lock member 13 is turned by the key. This contact carrier has contacts 21, 22, and 23 thereon that are formed integrally with the metallic ring '24. said contacts being preferablyrearwardly bulged portions of the sheet metal ring 24 carried upon the rear face of the insulating ring 20. A stationary cam member 25,

in the nature of a serrated crown, is formed upon the rim of a metallic cup 26 fixed upon tne rear casing end wall 2, the bottom of this cup having a square opening 27 which receives the square portion 2 of wall 2 to keep the cup 26 and the cam thereon from turning. The cam portion 25 of-cup 26 is .surrounded by the insulatingn'ing 20 and engages the floating cam member 28 projecting rearwardly from the aforesaid metallic ring 20 from which the cam 28 is stamped. 'A spring 29, abutting at its outer end. as will 1aterappear,\ )resses inwardly at its inner end against the'floating cam member 28. to press this cam Ymember against the cam member 25. i

When the key is turned throughout its range from one alternative position to another, the contact carrier 20 is turned with the lock member 13, the cam member 28 turning with this contact carrier. In this turning movement, the floating .cam member 28 and the carrier 20 supporting it are moved outwardly along the axis of the lock member 13 by the stationary cam member 25 and against the force of the spring 29 until the point of the engaging cams pass each other, whereupon'the spring expands until finally the two cam members are brought into full engagement, :1 condition which obtainswhen the carrier 20 is turned from one circuit controlling position to another. "The contacts 21, 22 and 23 either ride upon the contacts 30, 31, 32, complecarrier 20 in firm engagement with their complemental contacts or maintaining the cams in engagement. The ignition circuit is thus opened or closed according to the adjustment of the rotatable lock member 13 as will be fully understoodby reference to Fig. 12. The contacts 30, 31 and '32 are desirably in the nature of sleeves whose bores are threaded. 'These sleeves pass through the rear end wall of the casing and receive binding screws 33 whereby the sleeves are electrically connected with the ignition circuit wires. The spring 29 is out of the circuit or circuits established when the contacts upon the carre'r 20 are engaged with their complemental contacts. I

Another contact carrier 36 is provided, this contact carrier being desirable also in the form of a ring of insulation which surrounds the outer ends of the lock member 7 and 13. The outer end of the spring 29 presses the contactcarrier 36 toward the front casing end wall 3. A handle 37 is coupled with the contact carrier 36 by means of prongs 38 projecting inwardly from the" handle, and passing through openings 39 in the end wall 3 and through openings 40 in the metallic plate 41 secured to the contact carrying ring 36. The handle is confined to a substantially fixed plane of rotation by means of the flanges 12 that are snugly received in a space'between the front casing end wall 3 and the plate 43 which is riveted upon the end wall 3 by means of the rivets 11 and which desirably serves as a mounting plate forthe switch casing and its contents. To the latter end, the mounting plate is extended radially beyond the casing and is formed to receive mounting screws 45 at its peripheral portion, these mounting screws serving to assemble the plate 43 with the dash board or other mounting panel 46. Y

receiving the outer end of the lock member 13. The insulating ring 36 carries a sheet metal ring 43having contacting portions 49, 50, 51 and 52 integrally formed therewith and wliich are desirably substantially rigid. Said contacting portions are cngageablcv with and separable from complemental contacts 53, 54, and 56 which are desirahlv also substantially rigid, being preferably formed of somewhat thick metal. The base ends of these contacts are anchored in place by means of the metallic'sleeves 57- passingradially through the side wall 1 of the body of the casing. The metallic sleeves 57 are interiorly threaded to receive binding screws 58 by which the various lighting circuit wires are connected with said sleeves and thereby with the stationary lighting circuit contacts 53, 54, 55 and 56 that are preferably thus disposed at the side of the casing. The lock desirably has no influence upon the handle and the handle no influence upon the contacts 49, 50, 51 andi52 upon the carrierv 36 engagejthe inward sloping surfaces of c the free ends of the contacts 53, 54,55 and 56. The contact carrier 36 is then positioned slightly inwardly from the outer end wall 3in order that the spring 29 may freely function to maintain good contact between theseengaging contacts. The portions 59 of the end wall 3 that are'engaged by the plate 41 and the portions 60 of the plate 41 that engage the plate 13 are desirably in the nature of cams that serve positively to hold the carrier 36 from accidental rotation. When the handle isturned to open; or close, or to change the lighting circuits, the cams 60 ride upon the cams 59 to press the carrier- 36 inwardly against the force of the spring 29 so that the contacts upon the ring 36 are moved inwardly. When the crowns upon the cams have passed each other, the spring 29 expands until finally the contacts upon thering 36 are in full line with their, complemental contacts 53, 54, 55 and 56 and are ultimately outwardly ressed into firm engagement therewith by t e spring 29, the contacts 53, "54, 55 and 56 then pressing upon the contacts 49, 50, 51 and 52 against the force of said spring, the plate 41 upon the carrier 36 being, incidentally, held in- Wardly removed from its outward position by the contacts 53, 54-, 55 and 46. Any suitable construction maybe provided for assemblingthe metallic plate 41 with the insulating rin 36. As illustrated, said plate is formedwith ears 41' that are received within grooves on the interior of the ring 36 and said plate is further provided with cars 41 that embrace the periphery of the ring. The metallic ring 48 is bulged at.

48 where it covers the inner ends of the ears 41.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having. thus described my invention I claim:

.1. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the eX-' terior of'the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two floating contact carriers Within the casing, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam members upon said contact carriers; cam members upon and within the casing and c'omplemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring interposed between the first aforesaid cam members to yieldingly maintain ,them respectively in engagement with the other cam nembers.

2. Ina switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon theexterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact carriers within the casing, one operable by the handle and t-heother by said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contactscomplemental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member upon the lock con-v trolled contact carrier, this carrier and cam member being together movable along the axis of the handle; a cam member upon and ing a rotatable member; two floating con-' tact carriers within the casing, one operable by the handle and the other by said rota table lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam members upon said contact carriers; stationary cam members upon and Within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring interposed between the first aforesaid cam memopening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact arhandle and the other by said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said ,Lcarriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member upon the lock controlled contact carrier. this carrier and cam member -floating together; a stationary cam riers Within the casing, one operable by the casing; of a rotatable handle upon the ex-.

terior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lockv having a-rotatable member; two floating contactcarriers within the casing and surrounding said lock member, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable lock member, contactsuponsaid carriers;

contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam members upon said contact carriers; ca1n members upon and within 'the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring interposed between the first aforesaid cam members to 'yieldingly maintain them respectively in engagement with the other cam members. 6. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact carriers within the casing and surrounding said lock member, one operable by the handle and the otherby said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complementalto the aforesaid con' tacts; a cam member upon the lock controlled contact carrier, this carrier and cam member floating together; a cam member upon and within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam member; and a spring serving to maintain the cam members yieldingly in engagement.

7. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two floating contact carriers within the casing and surrounding said lock member, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam members upon said contact carriers; stationary cam members upon and within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring interposed between the first aforesaid cam members to yieldingly' maintain them respectively in engagement with the other cam members.

8. In ,a switch, the combination with a casing; of arotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact carriers within the casing and surrounding said lock member, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; a cam member upon the lock con-' trolled contact carrier, this carrier and cam member floating to ether; a stationary cam member upon'an within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam member; and a spring servin to maintain the cam members yieldingly in engagement.

9. In av switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed witha lock opening through its hub portion; a lock contact carriers within the casing, oneoperable by the handle and the other by said: rotatable-lock member; contacts upon said carriers; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts; cam members upon said contact carriers; cam members upon and within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring, out of having a rotatable member; two floating circuit with said contacts, interposed between the first aforesaid cam members to yieldingly maintain them respectively in engagement with the other cam members.

10. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact carriers within the casing, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable.

lock member; contacts upon .said carriers;

contacts complemental to the aforesaid con tacts; a cam member upon the lock controlled contact carrier, this carrier and cam member floating together; a cam member upon\ and; within the casing and complemental to theiaforesaid cam member; and a spring, out of circuit with said contacts, serving to maintain the cam members yieldingly in engagement.

11. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the ex tact carriers; stationary cam members upon and within the casing and complemental to the aforesaid cam members; and a spring, out of circuit with said contacts, interposed between the first aforesaid cam members to yieldingly maintain them respectively in engagement with the other cam members.

12. In a switch, the combination with a casing; of a rotatable handle upon the exterior of the casing and formed with a lock opening through its hub portion; a lock having a rotatable member; two contact carriers within the casing, one operable by the handle and the other by said rotatable complemental to the aforesaid cam memlock member; contacts upon said carriers; her; and a spring, out of cireuitwith said contactscomplemental to the aforesaid concontacts, serving to maintain the 'cam mem- 1 tacts; a cam member upon the lock oonbers yieldingly'in en agement.

. B trolled contact carrier, this carrier and cam" In witness whereo I'hereunto subscribe member floating together; a. stationary cam my-name. 4 member upon and within the casing and HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

